Aquatics & Recreation Victoria’s Post

☀️🌊 Water Safety for Everyone: Let’s Protect Our Community This Summer 🌊☀️ Our waterways are a place of joy, connection, and culture—a shared treasure we all value. But last summer, 134 lives were tragically lost to drowning, a devastating reminder that safety around water is something we all need to work towards together. Older adults made up 39% of these fatalities, and 27% were people born overseas. These statistics reflect the diverse makeup of our community and the unique challenges some groups face. Water safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it starts with awareness and action: ✅ Learn and share knowledge: Not everyone in our community has grown up around water or learned how to stay safe. Let’s talk about water safety with friends, neighbors, and family—especially those new to Australia or unfamiliar with our waterways. ✅ Support access to swimming skills: If you know someone who isn’t confident in the water, encourage them to explore opportunities to learn, whether through local learn to swim programs or community programs like Aquatics & Recreation Victoria’s VICSWIM program. ✅ Look out for each other: Supervise children, stay close to older loved ones, and always have a buddy when heading to the water. A small act of care can make all the difference. ✅ Be prepared: Check weather and water conditions before heading out. Share what you know about local waterways with those who might not understand the risks, like rips, currents, or deep water. ✅ Make it safe for everyone: Simple actions like wearing a lifejacket while boating or fishing, and staying between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches, keep not just you, but others around you safer. Water is for all of us to enjoy, and safety must be a part of that enjoyment. Together, we can make this summer a season of connection and celebration—not tragedy. Let’s keep watch, share knowledge, and build a community where everyone feels confident and safe around water. 💧 Drowning prevention starts with us all. Royal Life Saving – Australia #CommunityCare #WaterSafety #SafeSummer #Belonging #DEI #InclusiveWaterSafetyPolicy

☀️🌊With extreme heat impacting the U.S., it's crucial this summer to Beware the Bloom! before heading to your local water body to cool off. Harmful algal blooms (#HABs) can pose serious risks to you and your pets. Here are some summer safety reminders to keep in mind: 💡Check Water Quality: Look for any advisories or warnings about algal blooms before you swim. 💡Spot the Signs: Avoid water that looks discolored, has a bad smell, or has visible scum. 💡Keep Pets Safe: Don’t let your dogs swim in or drink from suspect water. Always provide clean, fresh water for them. 💡Rinse Off: After swimming in any natural water body, rinse yourself and your pets thoroughly with clean water. 💡Stay Informed: Follow local reports on water quality and be aware of potential HABs in your area. Enjoy the summer and stay safe! For more tips and information on #harmfulalgalblooms, visit our website and join our "Beware the Bloom!" campaign. Together, we can protect our families and furry friends from hidden dangers in the water. 🐾💦 https://lnkd.in/eYd53ecG #WeMakeWaterSafe #WaterSafety

Once road salt enters the environment it is next to impossible to remove. This excess salt can do damage all year long.  Shoveling early and often, smartly salting your walkways, and sweeping up excess salt are all MAJOR ways you can make a difference and reduce salt pollution at home while staying safe in winter weather. Did you know that a 12 oz. mug holds enough salt to treat 10 sidewalk squares or a 20 foot driveway (about two parking spaces)? Tell your friends! Want to learn about other ways to make a difference and what organizations across the country are doing to reduce their salt footprint? Learn more about Winter Salt Awareness Week 2025 at wintersaltweek.org.

🌊 Recognizing World Drowning Prevention Day - July 25 Today we recognize World Drowning Prevention Day, a global effort initiated by the World Health Organization to address the pressing issue of drowning—one of the top causes of accidental deaths worldwide. Key Points to Note: ·  Drowning is the third leading cause of accidental injury fatalities, with around 236,000 deaths reported annually around the globe. · In Greece, nearly 350 people die each year in water-related accidents, with a significant portion being individuals over the age of 60. Key Prevention Tips: 1.    Swimming Skills: Learning to swim can drastically reduce the risk of drowning, particularly in young children. 2.    Water Barriers: Installing fences and other barriers around pools can help prevent unsupervised access by children. 3.    Supervision: Always keep a close watch around any body of water, including bathtubs and swimming pools. 4.    Use Safety Gear: Properly using life jackets and other safety equipment is crucial for preventing drowning. 5.    Limit Alcohol: Alcohol impairs your ability to make safe decisions and coordinate movements, increasing drowning risk. 6.    Health Precautions: Those with epilepsy or similar conditions should take extra care during water activities. Today is a reminder to enhance water safety and adopt practices that can prevent drowning. By raising awareness and implementing effective safety measures, we can work towards making aquatic environments safer for everyone. #WorldDrowningPreventionDay #DrowningPrevention #WaterSafety #PublicHealth #SafetyFirst #CommunityCare Attributed by: National Public Health Organization ( NPHO)

Healthy rivers are central to the Territory way of life. They’re where we fish, boat, relax and enjoy the unique Top End lifestyle. Home to a diverse range of freshwater species; healthy, well-functioning ecosystems that support local businesses and lifestyle are now under threat. Elsewhere around Australia, rivers have been exploited nearly to the brink of collapse. The rapid rise of large-scale agriculture and a lack of regulation could devastate the NT’s rivers, just like we’ve seen happen to the Murray-Darling. 🏞️ We can’t let that happen. We have a unique opportunity to protect our free-flowing rivers before it’s too late. Learn more and get involved to save the NT’s rivers: https://lnkd.in/gak9fjjM

Great press conference this morning supporting Queensland’s first rollout of the Lynxight AI-enabled drowning prevention lifeguard assistance technology at Logan City Council’s Gould Adams Aquatic Centre managed by City Venue Management. Royal Life Saving – Australia research has shown that last year there were 8,000 lifeguard rescues at public pools, but tragically 6 drowning deaths and an estimated 18 non-fatal drownings. Every improvement to lifeguard detection and response should be investigated by pool owners and operators and celebrated. It was great to collaborate with Brad Page, Mayor Jon Raven and the team at Logan City Council, Lynxight Australia’s Daniel Mulvey and the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland Inc and CVM teams for a successful launch event and press conference. Thanks for having me. A channel 9 evening news clip is provided below, there was great evening news coverage on ABC and 7 also. The press release is here: https://lnkd.in/g8cJFAkw

Did you spread salt during the recent storm? Consider sweeping it up now so it doesn't runoff into our waterways to become a permanent pollutant, which puts our drinking water, aquatic life, and infrastructure at risk. Remember, be #saltsmart in 3 easy steps: ❄️ Shovel first 🧂 Salt lightly 🧹 Sweep it up Learn more >>> https://lnkd.in/ecTa483B

Don't let common mistakes rob you of the ultimate aquatic oasis. 🌴From repairs to ventilation, cleaning, and materials, we've got you covered with premium solutions tailored to elevate your poolside experience. Avoid These Common Pool Enclosure Mistakes: ✅ Ignoring repairs ✅ Overlooking ventilation ✅ Neglecting regular cleaning ✅ Choosing poor quality materials #3GHomeExteriorsFlorida #3GHomeUpgrades #FloridaPoolEnclosureCompanies #BestLanaiCompanyFlorida

I learnt on a recent regatta ⛵️ by some excellent sailing ladies that they all try to avoid sun cream (by avoiding the sun) unless necessary and then source an ocean friendly version if they can’t avoid the sun. So if you’re going to make a change this year to help protect our oceans, check out what sunscreen you’re wearing and choose the reef safe versions which are now easily available. 🧴🐬 #WorldOceansDay

Did you know that most sun cream is toxic to aquatic life? ☠️🐡🐟 While it's important to protect our skin from the sun, we should also consider the impact our choices have on marine ecosystems. Learn how to stay safe in the sun without harming aquatic life by reading #Greenpeace's article and arming ourselves with knowledge this #WorldOceansDay. https://bit.ly/4e01LHK #Innov8Social #WeCare #KeepOurOceansSafe #EcoFriendlyChoices